A simple instrument to assess the risk of falling in postpartum women: the SLOPE scale (riSk of faLling in pOstPartum womEn).

A simple instrument to assess the risk of falling in postpartum women: the SLOPE scale (riSk of faLling in pOstPartum womEn). J Obstet Gynaecol. 2021 Jan 12;:1-6 Authors: Beltrame Vriz G, Soriani N, Postai D, Piras GN, Masè C, Comoretto RI, Gregori D Abstract The purpose of this study was to introduce a novel instrument aimed at stratifying the risk of falling in postpartum patients. The research was a survey of a sample of 460 midwives working at different hospitals, mainly in Northern Italy, except for a hospital in Rome (Italy). The survey, consisting of 70 items, was conducted among midwives and asked them to express their opinion regarding the increased risk of falling in puerperal women on a Likert scale according to the characteristics listed in the questionnaire. Items were derived from the synthesis of scales available in the literature from settings other than the postpartum period, and interviews were conducted with midwives with great experience in this area. A shortened version was obtained using principal component analysis. A 30-item final scale was obtained, the SLOPE (riSk of faLling in pOst-Partum womEn), ranging from 0 to 100. The scale allows stratification of postpartum women at low (0-10), intermediate (10-20) and high risk (>20) of falling. The development of the SLOPE scale is the first step towards more rational evidence-based management of the risk of falling in postpartum women in current clinical pract...
Source: Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology - Category: OBGYN Tags: J Obstet Gynaecol Source Type: research